Travel
By Katie Cushing
"People travel because they are searching for something."
It was November of 2006 when someone told me that. We were sitting in the steaming waters of the Banff Hot Springs, our bodies gradually boiling like lobsters and our hair turning to icicles. His name was John Something-Or- Other; an Aussie, who had, he said, been on the road for five years.
By Shannon Hurst
There are many places throughout Canada that have gone to great lengths to preserve this countries rich history and diverse culture by restoring or rebuilding heritage sites and structures. However there are very few places left where the colourful history still lays raw, real and untouched for the most part.
The island chain comes into sight about six hours into what is roughly an eight-hour ferry ride from Prince Rupert, British Columbia across the Hecate Strait. It is my first visit to what has been referred to as "The Galapagos of the North," and my hopes are high. Less than a week later, all my expectations have been exceeded.
Haida Gwaii is a place like no other. The land, the water, the wildlife, the people, the plants and the history are all unique to this archipelago located about 100 kilometres off the coast of Northern B.C. — also known as the Queen Charlotte Islands. Haida Gwaii consists of more than 150 islands but most of the population of 5,000 live on two of the largest, Graham and Moresby in the communities of Old Massett, Massett, Port Clements, Skidegate and Queen Charlotte City.
Friend, co-driver, navigator and photographer Bob Parkinson and I run through our checklist. Camera — check. Binoculars — check. Peppered beef jerky — check. Spare tire — check. The Big 3 CDs (Stompin Tom Connors, Johnny Horton, Johnny Cash) — check, check and check. And on it goes for another full minute until, silently, the eerily lit digital clock display in my Honda Civic rolls over to 3:30 a.m. With a whoop, a holler and an animated high-five I slip the car....
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